Melodic hardcore is really the only way to describe Minneapolis's Man Afraid. Their first 7", Uphill Struggle", is a nice example of this. Their lyrics are chock full of personal and political wordings that made me stop and think more than anything else I've been listening to lately. Direct, forceful lyrics have made this little single a home in the front of my 7" collection. I was lucky enough to score a copy of the first pressing too, which is on red vinyl.

In a wonderful D.I.Y. effort, Man Afraid has put this out on their own label - Half Mast Records. Their label also has put out a Twin Cities comp with 22 various bands on it, including a few of their own that you won't find on the 7".

While I have nothing but praise for this band, the sad fact is that just this week they became no more. Apparently, from what I have heard, vocalist Mike Griffin from Man Afraid died of carbon monoxide inhalation. This was no accident though - it was a taking of his own life, that he seemed not to be able to deal with any longer.

It's not on the Uphill Struggle 7", but Man Afraid does a song called Premature Anti-Fascist. I retrieved the lyrics off of the bands web page to re-print here. Be sure to read the last few lines, it made me really sad to see them.

Although these lyrics show his strong will and powerful resistance, in his life, Mike just couldn't seem to uphold them. To Mike - Rest in peace.